Locating August Strindberg's Prose: Modernism, Transnationalism, and Setting

‘A long overdue contribution to our understanding of the Swedish author’s instrumental role in devising transnational prose modernism…The concept of literary setting is central to Stenport’s project of re-locating Strindberg’s prose in the heart of European modernism…. The book’s compelling argument will also inspire fresh contemporary translations of these texts, translations that will help us appreciate Strindberg’s truly transnational contributions in our globalized world.’ Eszter Szalczer, Modernism/Modernity Volume 19:1:2012

‘A fascinating and substantial study of spatial setting in Strindberg's works, showing how settings can be used as a tool for exploring European literary modernism…Stenport writes in an elegant academic prose which contributes to making the book a pleasure to read.’ Kristina Sjögren, Scandinavica Vol 50:2:2011

‘an insightful analysis… Recommended.’ H.I. Eisohn, CHOICE Magazine; vol 48:09:2011

'Locating August Strindberg's Prose is a fascinating and probing study on the prose of August Strindberg, one of the most radical protagonists of Modernist literature. Anna Westerståhl Stenport combines a broad historical perspective with minute analysis as she focuses on and maps such aspects of modernity as railway travel, divorce, photography, city streets, and phonographs. By following the geographically peripheral August Strindberg on his way to the well-known literary centers of Berlin and Paris, Westerståhl Stenport successfully puts across her idea of modernism as rural and colonial, situated and displaced, transforming modernism into a plurality of modernisms. This book forms an original and thought-provoking argument about the Modernist as a transnational writer.' Ulf Olsson, Stockholm University

'Locating August Strindberg's Prose is both thoughtful and stimulating. Anna Westerståhl Stenport succeeds, as no one else has before her, in convincing the reader that Strindberg's prose can and should be read as a powerful contributor to European modernism. Her use of his transnational, multilingual identity and her analysis of the prose texts that he created during his travels are genuinely insightful and original.' Ross Shideler, Professor of Comparative Literature and Scandinavian, UCLA

'A superb study of Strindberg as a crucial European modernist whose prose has been overlooked for too long, Locating August Strindberg's Prose also makes a strong case for transnationalism as the foundation of European modernism. This is required reading for anyone interested in the relations between modernism and transnationalism, comparative modernisms, and the new spatial turn in modernist studies, and will appeal to those engaged by a great writer whose texts challenge the link between author and national tradition on which so much scholarship still relies.' Mark Wollaeger, Department of English, Vanderbilt University